Seattle, WA, February 5, 2009 -- PorchLight Entertainment has partnered with Hidden City Games to create an animated television series and long-form film content based on the magical world of Bella Sara horses. Under the agreement, PorchLight will have worldwide rights to the animated productions based on the Bella Sara™ brand, and will simultaneously pursue feature and direct-to-DVD opportunities.
“We are very pleased to be working with Hidden City Games on Bella Sara,” said Bruce Johnson, PorchLight’s President and CEO. “Bella Sara has a massive audience already built in from its trading cards and online world, and we are thrilled to give Bella Sara fans and newcomers the chance to delve farther into the legends of Bella Sara. Our Bella Sara productions will transport children into the mystical realm of North of North as they follow Emma, a 12-year-old girl, on her adventure to reclaim her birthright. With magic, mystery and lots of horses, Bella Sara delivers classic, fantasy-driven stories that kids will love for years to come.”
Bella Sara was created in Denmark by Gitte Odder Braendgaard and has become the most successful trading card product ever developed for girls, featuring horse-themed fantasy cards that offer positive, inspirational messages to millions of young children. Each card, purchased in packs, includes a unique code that activates, at the Bella Sara website, a virtual version of the horse pictured on the card. Bella Sara taps into young girls’ love of horses and offers children the ability to nurture their virtual horses in their online stables, read stories and play games featuring horses. Bella, the icon of the brand, is a legendary horse in North of North.
“Hidden City Games has created a rich world filled with fascinating characters, both human and animal,” said Shea Fontana, Manager of Children’s Programming at PorchLight. “Through the eyes of Emma and her horse, Wings, we explore this fantastical empire and meet magical horses, wolf-riders, goddesses and gods and a collection of unforgettable characters that comprise this amazing and unique mythology. Along the way, Emma discovers her true destiny and why she belongs in North of North.”
Peter D. Adkison, CEO of Hidden City Games, noted, “We believe in PorchLight because of Bruce Johnson’s extensive experience in the world of children’s animation, his passion for producing high quality properties like Bella Sara, and his appreciation for the work we have already put into developing the property. Everyone we’ve talked to in the entertainment industry speaks highly of his experience and integrity. As relative newcomers to the world of Hollywood, it was very important to us to find someone we felt we could trust with Bella Sara.”
The Bella Sara animated series will focus on Emma and Wings as they explore the empire of North of North, and along the way discover adventure, mischief and what makes this world truly unique. The animated series will be 26 x 22 minutes and targets kids ages 6-11.
Bella Sara trading cards and online world for girls are available across Europe, North America and South America, with distribution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina.
Conceptcard ApS, Denmark, is the original developer of the Bella Sara cards and online game.
ITV Global Entertainment serves as licensing agent for the Bella Sara property.
Since its debut, Bella Sara has received awards from numerous child development and parenting authorities, including the “Seal of Approval” from the National Parenting Center, the “Toy of the Year” from Creative Child magazine, the “Excellent Product” and “Outstanding Product” designations from iParenting Media, and “Best Products” award from Dr. Toy.
About PorchLight Entertainment
PorchLight Entertainment is a multi-faceted company focused on the production and distribution of high-quality family entertainment and licensing and merchandising representation for children’s and family brands and trademarks. Since its formation in 1995 PorchLight has produced more than 40 live-action and animated movies and several major animated series including the Emmy Award-winning series, Tutenstein, for Discovery Kids and Jetix Europe, Jay Jay The Jet Plane for PBS, Four Eyes for France 3, Nickelodeon Asia and Nickelodeon Australia; and Adventures from The Book of Virtues for PBS, and a series of direct-to-videos for Leapfrog, the leading electronic toy company. The company co-produced Animalia for the BBC, PBS, Nickelodeon and Network Ten in Australia and CBC in Canada; and currently produces The Secret Saturdays for Cartoon Network; and offers an extensive line-up of live-action and animated movies for the international television and DVD market. Bruce D. Johnson is president and CEO. For more information, visit www.porchlight.com.
About Hidden City Games
Hidden City Games, Inc., a venture-backed game publisher headquartered in Seattle, develops and markets tabletop and online games to interactively engage players and collectors of all ages. The company is best known as the exclusive licensor of Bella Sara for girls ages 7 and up. The inspirational, horse-themed trading cards and magical online world launched nationwide in the United States in March of 2007. Bella Sara, the most successful trading card product ever developed for girls, links to a safe, fun-filled virtual world for kids at www.bellasara.com. Founder and CEO Peter D. Adkison formerly founded Wizards of the Coast, Inc., which created the world’s first trading card game, Magic: The Gathering, and introduced the Pokemon trading card phenomenon to North America.
About Conceptcard
Conceptcard was founded in September of 2005 in Svendborg, Denmark. The company launched its first product, a game called Bella, also in September of 2005. Conceptcard was founded by principals Gitte Braendgaard and Poul Villadsen, each of whom hold the title of director. Gitte, who developed the Bella product vision, was inspired to create Bella during her tenure as a social worker, caring for the disabled. In line with the focus of her former career, Bella features socially conscious, positive messages and imagination-building game play, designed to uplift girls.
About ITV Global Entertainment Ltd
ITV Global Entertainment is one of the World’s leading International TV Distribution, Home Entertainment, Publishing and Consumer Product business, led by Peter Iacono, President and Managing Director of ITV Global Entertainment ltd.
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